2005 National Generosity Index

636 Views 7 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Dullhook, Nov 30, 2005

rimrock

Discussion Starter · Nov 28, 2005

With Christmas approaching I found this interesting:

Without going into great detail the Annual National Generosity Index rates each States population in their capability of giving (i.e. How much wealth a State has – Having Rank vs. How much it gives in charitable donations – Giving Rank).

Using that standard, the 5 most generous states were, Mississippi, Arkansas, South Dakota, Oklahoma and Tennessee. The Top 10 consisting of mostly States in the Deep South.

The 5 stingiest were New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. And the Top 10 consisted of mostly the NE and Northern U.S States.

OREGON Ranked: 35th overall (and noted 41st stingiest in giving). :blush:

Check out the link if you would like to see a table showing all 50 States.
2005 National Index

I found it interesting the States who are in the bottom third of having (minus Texas and Wyoming) are in the top third in overall generosity!!!

Makes you think doesn’t it. :whazzup:

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garyk

· #2 · Nov 28, 2005

Good topic Rimrock, especially as we enter what is traditionally the peak time for charitable giving.

One thing about that study....

Giving to religion tends to skew those statistics toward heavily 'churched' states. While giving to churches is certainly philanthropy, the peer and social pressure to tithe is intense. Each time they pass the collection plate, for just one example, you're compelled to give. No other charities suggest you give "10%" of your income to them (not even OPB :laugh

.

All I'm saying is that when the statistics are un-weighted for giving to religious organizations, the results look very different. Far from being at the bottom, Oregon's citizens are extremely generous.

Other sites related to charitable giving, complete with charity ratings, and worth exploring are Guidestar.com and CharityNavigator.com.

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rimrock

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 28, 2005

You bet garyk (I like the OPB joke :smile

. ANY study at best is just a guideline not an absolute. Also note the foundation who conducts this annual report is not affiliated with a religious group/organization/basis. I understand your post; just wanting to clarify this isn’t a “Christian Study”.

However one slices it IMO I believe it’s fair to say Having doesn’t correlate directly to Giving. The more someone has doesn’t necessarily mean they are more generous; many times the opposite is in fact true. This to me is what’s important if we even care to relate this to our personal lives. Giving will never come directly from Having it must come from something else. I believe it’s important for each person to figure out that something else.

As a friend told me once; “Give me your checkbook and I’ll tell you what’s truly important in your life; regardless of what you think it is.”

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garyk

· #4 · Nov 28, 2005

I totally understand. :wave:

My point in general is - organized religion is so big, and receives such a large portion of America's charitable dollars, that it is really a sector unto itself, and it tends to skew the studies that combine it with non-religious philanthropy.

The more someone has doesn’t necessarily mean they are more generous; many times the opposite is in fact true.

Yes, that is certainly true. As a percentage of adjusted-gross-income, lower and lower-middle class Americans gift a larger percentage to charities than upper-income taxpayers.

The wealthiest Americans get the publicity for their occassional, immense seven-figure gifts, but the nonprofit sector as a whole, is sustained by the everyday citizens giving $25 or $100 a year.

The important thing is, every gift is important and meaningful.

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crabbait

· #5 · Nov 28, 2005

Define "giving". A gift to the national headquarters for the party of your choice is "giving". So is the donation to Ducks Unlimited, so is the weekly tith at church, so is a donation to your favorite charity.

Me thinks the poll is skewed.

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garyk

· #6 · Nov 28, 2005

Some more info from the Chronicle of Philanthropy:

The Chronicle's analyses affirm previous studies showing the major influence that religious giving has in driving donations, not just among blacks, but among all Americans. More than $3 of every $4 donated to charity is given to houses of worship or other religious causes, the Chronicle study found.

This very interesting article, which delves into geography, race, socio-economics as they impact charitable giving is here:

http://philanthropy.com/free/articles/v15/i14/14000601.htm

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rimrock

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 28, 2005

Thanks garyk…overall it was interesting to see the many various giving rates, many of which are in a way comparatively fairly low. We have so much when you think about it, but yet as a community giving is still so hard to do.

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Dullhook

· #8 · Nov 30, 2005

The 5 stingiest were New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. And the Top 10 consisted of mostly the NE and Northern U.S States.

Hey rimrock, It's cold up there and it takes lot's of bucks to heat their homes in the winter! :jester:

Seriously, giving is defined by Websters as: " presenting voluntarily and without expecting compensation."

Let's not be too hard on our brothers and sisters :hearton:! As you know, the giving of help, friendship, teaching, advice, and of course love, are not measurable by any poll. These can't be measured state by state, but only heart by heart! :flowered:

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